Heat’s Hassan Whiteside named Eastern Conference player of the week

MIAMI – The NBA announced Monday that Miami HEAT center Hassan Whiteside was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, March 13 through Sunday, March 19. This marks the second time a HEAT player has earned Player of the Week honors this season, joining Dion Waiters from January 30. It is the first time Whiteside has been named Player of the Week in his career and the 55th time in franchise history a HEAT player has earned the honors.

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Whiteside led the HEAT to a 2-1 record for the week, averaging 20.0 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.67 blocks while shooting an NBA-high 73 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the foul line. He led the team in rebounds and blocks in all three contests and also topped the team in minutes twice and points once. He posted a double-double in each contest and has now currently posted 12-straight double-doubles, the longest streak in team history. His 48 double-doubles this season are just five short from tying the HEAT all-time single-season record and his 73.8 double-double percentage rate this season is the best in franchise history. He has also grabbed double-figure rebounds in 16 consecutive games, the longest streak in franchise history and his 56 total double-figure rebound games this season already tie Miami’s all-time single-season record. Additionally, his 922 rebounds this season are just 12 boards short from tying the single-season franchise all-time rebound record.

Whiteside led off the week with a 20-point, 17-rebound double-double while shooting 9-of-11 from the field to help the HEAT to a, 120-112, win against New Orleans on March 15. He then posted a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double vs. Minnesota on March 17, shooting 10-of-11 from the field and blocking three shots in a, 123-105, victory. The win improved Miami’s second half season record to 23-5 (.821), pushing them into a playoff spot as they look to become the first team in NBA history to earn a postseason berth after being 19 games under .500 that same season. In the final game of the week on March 19, Whiteside recorded a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks in a, 115-104, loss to Portland.

Among league leaders this season, Whiteside ranks first in rebounds per game (14.2), third in total rebounds (922), third in blocks per game (2.11), fourth in total blocks (137), tied for fourth in double-doubles (48) and eighth in field goal percentage (.561).